Memorial Day 2011

[Guest040616]

Originally Posted by LexusLover

When I was born my Dad was a Gunny, ....

.... and when I went to his funeral he was still a Gunny.

And in between he was my DI.

And may the "Gunny" rest in peace!

[LexusLover]

Originally Posted by bigtex

And may the "Gunny" rest in peace!

He does, finally.

[ArmyDog]

Old Breed's screed has a point (although I'm usually suspicious about fellow vets who wear their service on their sleeve). The holiday is definitely about those who gave all. Us vets get Veterans Day. The two should not be confused.

[LexusLover]

Army, I guess there is some "confusion" about why some got Memorial Day and others got Veterans Day. Don't you think?

[ArmyDog]

If you die in the service of your country you are remembered on Memorial Day. If you are a veteran (meaning you lived to see the end of your military service) then Veterans Day is your holiday.

[alexandriajuly]

I was listening to the radio last night and heard about this event in case anyone is interested @ Bear Creek Pioneer Park 2pm Monday the address is 3535 Memorial Drive...the radio man said something about it being to honor Memorial Warriors, those who have given their lives for us.

[oldbreed]

Originally Posted by LexusLover

Army, I guess there is some "confusion" about why some got Memorial Day and others got Veterans Day. Don't you think?

Originally Posted by ArmyDog

If you die in the service of your country you are remembered on Memorial Day. If you are a veteran (meaning you lived to see the end of your military service) then Veterans Day is your holiday.

Armydog you are correct and which is the point of my starting this thread. I proudly wear my service on my sleeve, then again I am a US Marine, not former, not ex, a US Marine.

I'll be participating in a ceremony tomorrow at Houston National, later that day I'll pour a shot of Irish Whiskey with a beer chaser for a good friend that was killed in Fallujah in 2004. He was 3 days away from the end of his tour leaving a wife and 2 young children behind. His death hits me as hard as the only Marine I have ever lost.

Gone but never forgotten.

[wheres waldo]

<silence>

[Guest040616]

Originally Posted by ArmyDog

If you die in the service of your country you are remembered on Memorial Day. If you are a veteran (meaning you lived to see the end of your military service) then Veterans Day is your holiday.

I agree wholeheartedly with the intent expressed by ArmyDog. Although I admit to having combined the two in the past!

When I do, I justify it by calling a simple "no harm, no foul!" There is certainly no disrespect intended.

[LexusLover]

Originally Posted by bigtex

I agree wholeheartedly with the intent expressed by ArmyDog. Although I admit to having combined the two in the past!

When I do, I justify it by calling a simple "no harm, no foul!" There is certainly no disrespect intended.

+1

Every day of the year, here,

.... and I think nothing less of the likes of Armydog or OldBreed because they are here to honor those who did not "come home" alive.

[ArmyDog]

Hey Bigtex,

It's better to confuse the two and remember our service members in some way than the vast majority who have no recollection of why today is a holiday.

[Jack Cassidy]

July 14, 1861
Camp Clark, Washington

My very dear Sarah:
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more . . .

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt . . .

Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all these chains to the battle field.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them for so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grown up to honorable manhood, around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often times been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness . . .

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights . . . always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again . . .

Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the first Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861.


--------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.
Dear Madam,--
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln


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" If silence is ever golden, it must be here, beside the graves of fifteen thousand men, whose lives were more significant than speech, and whose death was a poem the music of which can never be sung. With words, we make promises, plight faith, praise virtue. Promises may not be kept, plighted faith may not be broken, and vaulted virtue may be only the cunning mask of vice."

" We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death; and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue. For the noblest man that lives there still remains a conflict. He must still withstand the assaults of time and fortune; must still be assailed with temptations before which lofty natures have fallen. But with these, the conflict ended, the victory was won, when death stamped on them the great seal of heroic character, and closed a record which years can never blot"

General James Garfield

[LexusLover]

[Ansley]

Originally Posted by ArmyDog

It's better to confuse the two and remember our service members in some way than the vast majority who have no recollection of why today is a holiday.

I used to be in that vast majority. For me Memorial Day meant a long weekend to enjoy the beach. I have never served in the military and will never be able to full comprehend the sacrifices that have been made.


Along with many other times, in '93 this speech was read. The speech always crosses my mind on Memorial Day.


"Whoever does not have the stomach for this fight, let him depart. Give him money to speed his departure since we wish not to die in that man’s company. Whoever lives past today and comes home safely will rouse himself every year on this day, show his neighbor his scars, and tell embellished stories of all their great feats of battle. These stories he will teach his son and from this day until the end of the world we shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for whoever has shed his blood with me shall be my brother. And those men afraid to go will think themselves lesser men as they hear of how we fought and died together."

~ William Shakespeare

[gnadfly]